Ian Holloway: Results will come

IAN Holloway believes QPR will enjoy an upturn in results if they continue to turn in the sort of performances they produced at Newcastle and Blackburn.

The R’s picked up a hard-fought, and fully-deserved, draw at St James’ Park ten days ago before cruelly losing 1-0 at Blackburn last weekend.

Rangers now find themselves six points above the relegation zone, but the manner of those displays on the road has given Holloway encouragement for the future.

“This is a new start with a new group,” Holloway said after bringing five players in during the January transfer window.

“What pleases me is the players are playing with pride when they wear that QPR shirt. It hasn’t always felt that way.

“I want them to work the way I used to work when I played – then their talent will shine through.

“The results at the minute aren’t what I want, but the performances are getting closer to what I want, and that eventually will lead to the right scores.”

Rangers found defeat hard to take at Ewood Park after Conor Washington’s headed ‘goal’ was not awarded, despite the ball clearly crossing the line while the game was still goalless.

And Holloway admits he has had to lift his players this week in the lead up to Saturday’s game against Huddersfield Town.

“It was a very frustrated dressing room after the match, but I can only reflect on the way we played, what we did, how we did it, the chances we missed, the chance we did actually take, and the late goal we conceded,” said Holloway.

“We have to take responsibility for that late goal but if we can recreate the overall approach we showed in that game, I will be happy.

“I said to the lads afterwards that I didn’t want to see people feeling down, but they couldn’t help it.

“They told me on Tuesday how they were feeling. I want them to care, and it’s great that they all do, but we can’t allow ourselves to get too down by something like that happening.”

Rangers will be looking to get back to winning ways at Loftus Road this weekend against a Huddersfield side which sits fourth in the table and just six points off an automatic promotion spot.

Having lost only one of their last 13 fixtures in all competitions, they are one of the division’s form teams.

QPR’s lost outing in W12 saw them lose 2-1 to Burton Albion, and Holloway is keen to get that loss out of the system.

“The last time we played at home it didn’t feel nice,” he said. “But it’s all about building, and getting this squad to understand who they are and what they are.

“Huddersfield are having a fantastic season and are on a fantastic run of results. But we normally do well against the better teams, don’t we?”

Terriers boss David Wagner is enjoying his first full season at the club after arriving in November 2015, and Holloway is full of praise for his opposite number.

“I’m impressed by the job he’s done,” said the R’s chief.

“The way he has galvanised the players and built his squad has been brilliant.

“He seems to have got real value for money and has built a group that, from the outside, seems to have such a wonderful feeling within it – how they celebrate with the crowd, how the crowd are with them. Well done to him.

“But what I want to do is ruin their party.

“We need our crowd to be with us. If it goes wrong early on, I need my players to be encouraged. Give the new lads time to find their feet, don’t judge them on the first pass, let’s make sure we are all together.

“The way the fans have taken to Ryan Manning is brilliant, and I want them to do that with all the players. Ryan has grown with the support he has been given, and he can’t wait to play at Loftus Road – he loves it.

“We need to create the right environment for all of my players to thrive.”

Huddersfield are having a fantastic season and are on a fantastic run of results.